NORFOLK, VA—ODU hitters pounded out 18 hits led by Ben Slaton(Magnolia, MS.) with three and three RBI while four pitchers scattered 10 hits and allowed just one run as the Monarchs (5-3) defeated Saint Joseph’s, 16-1 in the final day of the ODU Baseball Invitational. In the earlier game Kentucky defeated St. John’s, 13-0. ODU has won five of its last six.

The Monarchs exploded for six runs in the first inning on a bases clearing double by senior Ben Slaton which brought home PJ Higgins (Wallingford, CT.), Connor Myers (Middletown, MD.) and Taylor Ostrich (Carroll, IA). Junior catcher Mike Perez (Fairfax Station, VA.) tripled home Slaton to make it 4-0 then freshman Nick Walker’s (Virginia Beach, VA.) sacrifice fly brought home Perez. Sophomore Brian Beard (Chesapeake, VA.)would later score in that inning on a wild pitch.

Five Monarchs; PJ Higgins, Connor Myers, Taylor Ostrich, Mike Perez and Nick Walker had two hits on the day while Walker, Higgins and Brian Bashara (Norfolk, VA.) each knocked in two runs.

Saint Joseph’s lone run came in the sixth on a Tommy Cunningham single which brought home Chris Hueth. Hueth led the Hawks with three hits on the day.

In the earlier game, Kentucky defeated St. John’s 13-0 as pre-season All-American A.J. Reed hit two more homers (five on the weekend) for the Wildcats. four Kentucky pitchers combined on a six hit shutout led by starter Kyle Cody who gave up six hits with no walks and one strikeout for his first win of the year.

ODU returns to action on Tuesday at Richmond, then returns home for a three-game series against Rutgers beginning Friday at 3 p.m.